Assange takes step closer to Senate

Philip Dorling

Julian Assange's plans to run as a Senate candidate have taken a step forward with his successful enrolment on the federal and state electoral rolls in Victoria.

Contrary to the expectations of a number of political commentators, the Australian Electoral Commission has accepted Mr Assange's enrolment as an eligible overseas elector in the Victorian federal seat of Isaacs, the seat of Labor Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.

The WikiLeaks publisher plans to run for the Senate in Victoria as the lead candidate of a newly formed WikiLeaks Party at the September 14 federal election.

The new party, which is not yet registered with the Australian Electoral Commission, has an initial 10-member national council comprised of close associates of Mr Assange and pro-WikiLeaks activists.

It is understood Ms Tranter is likely to be the WikiLeaks Party's Senate candidate in NSW.

Mr Assange lives in the Embassy of Ecuador in London where he has been granted political asylum on the grounds he is at risk of extradition to the United States to face conspiracy or other charges arising from WikiLeaks obtaining thousands of secret US military and diplomatic reports leaked by US Army soldier Bradley Manning.

Swedish prosecutors wish to extradite Mr Assange to have him questioned in Stockholm in relation to sexual assault allegations by two women. Mr Assange claims that extradition to Sweden would facilitate his eventual extradition to the US.

Mr Assange has indicated that if elected and unable to return to Australia to take up a seat in the Senate, a WikiLeaks Party nominee would fill the vacancy.